Four business owners meet with Gov. Brown next week

SACRAMENTO — Four north state business owners will be meeting with Gov. Jerry Brown next week, ready to talk about the regulatory climate of California.

The meeting is slated for Jan. 8 in Sacramento and was arranged by Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Loma Rica, as a follow-up to small business testimonies presented in July to California Labor Commissioner Julie Su.

Logue got a call from Gov. Jerry Brown after the meeting, asking to meet with some of the businesses that gave testimony.

While it was standing-room only in the Chico City Council chambers, only four businesses were selected to meet with the governor, two of which had testified before Su.

The business owners are Melodee Thomas of FedEx in East Biggs, Christy Edwards of Louis Cairos Restaurant in Williams, Lorie Karls of Giada Hair Salon in Chico, and Jose Nunez of La Perla Tapatia grocery in Orland.

Thomas, whose family business is 15 years old and employs 10, wants to tell the governor about an employee claim made against her business regarding several workplace issues. She could not go into detail about the issues because of a pending court date on the matter.

Thomas said she is anxious to represent what's happening to small businesses in California, saying companies like hers have tried to follow the laws meticulously. Thomas said she and other small businesses have felt like "the bad guys" when talking with state labor commission representatives, who seem to take employees' sides over theirs.

Thomas said Logue's office has not said much about the meeting, and has not coached, at least her, in what to say.

"I do think this is going to be helpful," she said. "We're assuming we have five minutes."

Thomas said she attended the Chico meeting, and sought out Logue afterwards to tell her situation, which was fresh in her mind after a labor hearing earlier that week.

Logue said Wednesday, "We want to give small businesses an opportunity to share what it means to be a small business and have state agencies, in what we believe is, overreach."

Logue summarized what's facing small businesses in California is a statewide culture of "hunting businesses."

"The culture in California needs to change. The culture seems to be (state agencies are) here to catch you and fine you, instead of being here to help you."

Logue said it appears that California is trying to make up the state deficit by fining small businesses, an attitude in place long before Brown took office.

"It's like state agencies are bounty hunters and small businesses are their prey."

Logue was complimentary of Brown, despite his office rescheduling the meeting several times.

"I'm not offended by (the rescheduling). He has taken the time to meet with people. I appreciate his willingness to do that.

"I think the governor understands that if businesses are treated fairly, the economy will grow and taxes won't have to be raised."

Recognizing it's difficult for businesses to pay attention to business and keep up with changing laws, Logue said he was hoping there might be outreach to businesses about changes in laws, like regular seminars.